Leaf Column Skinny Pumpkin With Solid Central Strip

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Prep and mark the central strip

   Scoop the interior to 2.5 centimeters. Before drawing anything else, mark the central strip down the full height of the face. Measure the narrowest point of the pumpkin and confirm the strip is at least 4 centimeters wide at that point. This strip is non-negotiable; all apertures must sit outside it.

2. 2

   Lay out the leaf columns

   Divide the height into twelve equal intervals on each side of the central strip. Mark each leaf center point. The teardrop shape should have its wider end pointing outward and its tip pointing toward the center strip, never touching it.

3. 3

   Mark the round berry holes

   Position the eight round holes in gaps between leaf tips and the outer edge of the face. Space them evenly so they fill in the design without crowding. Each round hole should be about 2 centimeters in diameter.

4. 4

   Cut leaves in left-right pairs

   Cut one leaf on the left column, then immediately cut its mirror position on the right column before moving to the next row. This alternating approach distributes stress evenly and prevents the shell from bowing to one side.

5. 5

   Cut the round berry holes

   Drill or saw the round holes after all leaves are cut. By this point the shell is more flexible, so work gently and support the pumpkin from behind as you cut. Remove each plug inward.

6. 6

   Light and display

   Use an LED pillar candle tall enough to cast light through both columns simultaneously. Position the pumpkin on a dark doorstep so the glowing garland columns are the first thing visitors see. The solid central strip will read as a lit pillar dividing the two curtains of leaves.

Written with AI to match this design